National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Esophagus Disorders is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Esophagus Disorders
The esophagus is the tube that carries food, liquids and saliva from your mouth to the stomach. You may not be aware of your esophagus until you swallow something too large, too hot or too cold. You may also become aware of it when something is wrong.
The most common problem with the esophagus is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It happens when a band of muscle at the end of your esophagus does not close properly. This allows stomach contents to leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus and irritate it. Over time, GERD can cause damage to the esophagus. Other problems include heartburn and cancer.
Treatment depends on the problem. Some get better with over-the-counter medicines or changes in diet. Others may need prescription medicines or surgery.
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
,
Learn More
, and
Multimedia & Cool Tools
.
For group Basics
For group Learn More
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
,
Reference Shelf
, and
For You
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For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
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Overviews
- Esophageal Disorders(Merck & Co., Inc.)
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Symptoms of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School)
- Understanding Esophageal Dilation(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
- Understanding Esophageal Manometry(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
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Upper GI Endoscopy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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Upper GI Endoscopy
(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
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Upper GI Series(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- X-Ray Exam: Neck(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
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Treatment
- Achalasia - slideshow
- Also available in Spanish
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Specific Conditions
- Abnormal Propulsion of Food(Merck & Co., Inc.)
- Achalasia (Beyond the Basics)(UpToDate)
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Barrett's Esophagus(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Bile Reflux(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis(American College of Gastroenterology)
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)(American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders)
- Esophageal Rings and Webs(InteliHealth)
- Esophageal Spasms(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Esophageal Varices(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Esophagitis(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School)
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Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Peptic Ulcer(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Tutorials
- Upper GI Endoscopy(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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Videos
- Esophageal Atresia(OR-Live) - Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Salem, NC, 3/11/2010
- Return to top
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Anatomy/Physiology
- Esophagus(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Throat Anatomy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Your Digestive System and How It Works(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Barrett Esophagus(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Esophageal Achalasia(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Esophageal Diseases(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Barrett Esophagus
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Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: Esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Triple A syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula
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Research
- Can We Determine Appropriate Foods to Eliminate to Treat Eosinophilic Esophagitis?(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Banding ligation versus beta-blockers for primary prevention in oesophageal varices...
- Article: Meta-analysis of Chinese medicines for prevention and treatment of radiation...
- Article: Fluoroscopically guided dilation of esophageal strictures in patients with dystrophic...
- Esophagus Disorders -- see more articles
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
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Digestive Diseases Dictionary
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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Digestive Diseases Dictionary
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Directories
- ASGE: Find a Doctor(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
- Find a Gastroenterologist(American College of Gastroenterology)
- Find a Surgeon: Find a SAGES Member(Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons)
- Find an Otolaryngologist (ENT)(American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)
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Organizations
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Children
- Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
- Tracheoesophageal fistula repair - slideshow
- Also available in Spanish
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Patient Handouts
- Achalasia
- Also available in Spanish
- Barrett's esophagus
- Also available in Spanish
- Bleeding esophageal varices
- Also available in Spanish
- Diet and eating after esophagectomy
- Also available in Spanish
- Esophageal atresia
- Also available in Spanish
- Esophageal manometry
- Also available in Spanish
- Esophageal perforation
- Also available in Spanish
- Esophageal spasm
- Also available in Spanish
- Esophageal stricture - benign
- Also available in Spanish
- Esophagectomy - discharge
- Also available in Spanish
- Esophagitis
- Also available in Spanish
- Esophagitis - infectious
- Also available in Spanish
- Lower esophageal ring (Schatzki)
- Also available in Spanish
- Mallory-Weiss tear
- Also available in Spanish
- Swallowing problems
- Also available in Spanish
- Tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia repair
- Also available in Spanish
- Upper GI and small bowel series
- Also available in Spanish
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
- Achalasia
- Achalasia - slideshow
- Barrett's esophagus
- Bleeding esophageal varices
- Diet and eating after esophagectomy
- Esophageal atresia
- Esophageal culture
- Esophageal manometry
- Esophageal perforation
- Esophageal pH monitoring
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Esophageal spasm
Esophageal stricture - benign
Esophagectomy - discharge
Esophagitis
Esophagitis - infectious
Flushable reagent stool blood test
Lower esophageal ring (Schatzki)
Mallory-Weiss tear
Swallowing problems
Tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia repair
Tracheoesophageal fistula repair - slideshow
Upper GI and small bowel series
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Esophageal spasm
Languages
Esophagus Disorders - Multiple Languages
